Dating groundwater in the Bohemian Cretaceous Basin: Understanding tracer variations in the subsurface
Dating groundwater in the Bohemian Cretaceous Basin: Understanding tracer variations in the subsurface
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DOI:
10.1016/j.apgeochem.2012.11.014
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发表时间:
2013-02-01
影响因子:
3.4
通讯作者:
Purtschert, R.
中科院分区:
文献类型:
--
作者:
Alvarado, J. A. Corcho;Paces, T.;Purtschert, R.
The northern section of the Bohemian Cretaceous Basin has been the site of intensive U exploitation with harmful impacts on groundwater quality. The understanding of groundwater flow and age distribution is crucial for the prediction of the future dispersion and impact of the contamination. State of the art tracer methods (H-3, He-3, He-4, Kr-85, Ar-39 and C-14) were, therefore, used to obtain insights to ageing and mixing processes of groundwater along a north-south flow line in the centre of the two most important aquifers of Cenomanian and middle Turonian age. Dating of groundwater is particularly complex in this area as: (i) groundwater in the Cenomanian aquifer is locally affected by fluxes of geogenic and biogenic gases (e.g. CO2, CH4, He) and by fossil brines in basement rocks rich in Cl and SO4; (ii) a thick unsaturated zone overlays the Turonian aquifer; (iii) a periglacial climate and permafrost conditions prevailed during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), and iv) the wells are mostly screened over large depth intervals.Large disagreements in Kr-85 and H-3/He-3 ages indicate that processes other than ageing have affected the tracer data in the Turonian aquifer. Mixing with older waters (> 50 a) was confirmed by Ar-39 activities. An inverse modelling approach, which included time lags for tracer transport throughout the unsaturated zone and degassing of He-3, was used to estimate the age of groundwater. Best fits between model and field results were obtained for mean residence times varying from modern up to a few hundred years. The presence of modern water in this aquifer is correlated with the occurrence of elevated pollution (e.g. nitrates).An increase of reactive geochemical indicators (e.g. Na) and radiogenic He-4, and a decrease in C-14 along the flow direction confirmed groundwater ageing in the deeper confined Cenomanian aquifer. Radiocarbon ages varied from a few hundred years to more than 20 ka. Initial C-14 activity for radiocarbon dating was calibrated by means of Ar-39 measurements. The C-14 age of a sample recharged during the LGM was further confirmed by depleted stable isotope signatures and near freezing point noble gas temperature. Radiogenic He-4 accumulated in groundwater with concentrations increasing linearly with C-14 ages. This enabled the use of He-4 to validate the dating range of C-14 and extend it to other parts of this aquifer. In the proximity of faults, Ar-39 in excess of modern concentrations and C-14 dead CO2 sources, elevated He-3/He-4 ratios and volcanic activity in Oligocene to Quaternary demonstrate the influence of gas of deeper origin and impeded the application of He-4, Ar-39 and C-14 for groundwater dating. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.